Jurgen Klopp manager of Liverpool reacts during the Barclays Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield on January 16, 2016 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

He writes: Jurgen Klopp’s arrival electrified Liverpool. But managerial charisma is no cure-all. This is the same squad, with the same deficiencies, that Brendan Rodgers trudged away from after being sacked. The Messiah’s personality cannot conceal a failure to defend corners or seize goalscoring chances.

Against their biggest enemy, Klopp’s men were dominant but lost the game to a Wayne Rooney goal from an old-school set piece: the seventh time this season Liverpool have conceded from a corner. No Premier League team has a great susceptibility to balls swung into the penalty box from the corner flag.

The Daily Mail'sMartin Samuel says that neither side looked like one capable of competing in the Champions League.

He writes: "When the final whistle blew, however, it was what it was: a match between the fifth best team in the Premier League, and the ninth. Neither of these sides is currently within the Champions League elite and neither played like it.

"We imbue this fixture with clasico status, but it’s a cheque these squads can no longer cash. United did not have a serious chance until Anthony Martial struck wide in the 57th minute, and Rooney’s goal was their first shot on target. It also took his Premier League goal total for United to 176 — the most by any player for one club. For such a rotten striker, he does seem to break a lot of records. Liverpool had the best chances in the first half and a fair few after half-time, too, but this was an old-fashioned smash and grab raid.

"With 12 minutes remaining, Memphis Depay took a short corner, which Juan Mata whipped in and Marouane Fellaini won commandingly in the air. His header hit the bar, but Rooney was quickest to react, lashing the ball in with the surrounding Liverpool players sluggish."

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Liverpool 0-1 Manchester United

In The Guardian , Andy Hunter says Liverpool were punished for their weaknesses at both ends of the pitch.

He writes: "Rooney settled the contest as he reacted sharply to a header from Marouane Fellaini, his fellow ex-Evertonian, that rebounded off the crossbar. It was Rooney’s first league goal at Anfield in 11 years and a moment for the United captain, his manager and club to savour. They were on the back foot for much of the game, their timidity in the first half was as bad as their touch on the ball, but they were able to punish Liverpool’s weaknesses in defence and in front of goal."

In the Daily Mirror , David Maddock argues that Christian Benteke has to be in the Liverpool team:

He writes: "You do wonder why so much money has been spent on forwards at Anfield who don't seem to have goals in them. Surely that is the fundamental criteria?

"Christian Benteke is the obvious case in point. Klopp is right that his strikers have to do far more than score goals, otherwise there is no system to deliver chances.

"Yet he is a goalscorer, and when they so sorely lack them, there surely has to be a way of getting him in the team."

Neil Atkinson , of the Anfield Wrap , tries to work out who can score goals in this Liverpool team:

He writes: " THIS Liverpool side has to work harder than any I can remember to score a goal. The stint it has to put in just to see the ball go over the line is ridiculous. When did we get the last cheap one? Firmino scored a belter against Arsenal. It’s either unbelievable graft or a belter.

"There is this thing I do when I see any Liverpool 11. It’s play “rank the likely scorers”. I saw this 11. I put Firmino first. The lad has yet to hit five in English football. Five. Second I have Milner. Third Henderson. Lallana fourth. He hasn’t scored in 10 hours of football. Emre Can fifth.

"Fourth and fifth are sort of OK in a sense. I remember doing this under Benitez and my fourth or fifth would be Agger. My first though would be Fernando Torres. My second Steven Gerrard. My third Dirk Kuyt. They were good. But more than being good, they were goalscorers and between them they could score all the different types of goals."

And you can read James Pearce'smatch verdict here , and he says the Reds only had themselves to blame for defeat.

James writes: "The outcome was cruel. Liverpool didn't deserve to lose. Yet they only had themselves to blame for a setback which effectively kills off any lingering hopes of launching a push for a top-four finish.

"The only realistic route into the Champions League now is winning the Europa League and that will only happen if Klopp can quickly address familiar failings at both ends of the field.

"United became the latest beneficiaries of Liverpool's embarrassing lack of firepower. Louis van Gaal's side also cashed in on the Reds' inability to defend set-pieces."